Back pain in nursing and associated factors: a study

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Nursing Studies
• Ergonomics

Background:

• Back pain is a prevalent issue among healthcare professionals, particularly nurses.
• The implementation of the European Community (EC) manual handling operations regulations in 1992 aimed to mitigate workplace risks.
• Understanding the multifactorial nature of back pain in nursing is crucial for effective prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the prevalence of back pain among nursing staff.
• To identify factors associated with back pain in nurses.
• To evaluate the impact of manual handling regulations and training on back pain incidence.

Main Methods:

• A confidential, retrospective questionnaire was administered to 168 nurses.
• Data collection occurred across nine National Health Service (NHS) hospital wards and two private wards.
• The study focused on identifying correlations between work pressures, training, and back pain.

Main Results:

• Back pain continues to be a significant problem for nursing staff.
• Cumulative effects of work pressures were identified as a major contributing factor to back pain.
• Limited evidence suggests that manual handling training directly reduces the prevalence of back pain.

Conclusions:

• Despite regulatory efforts, back pain persists among nurses.
• The complexity of factors influencing back pain necessitates a broader approach than just manual handling training.
• Addressing work pressures is essential for managing and reducing back pain in the nursing profession.